Monday, January 3, 2011
Chatham County Commissioners start cutting—and two people lose jobs
In their first meeting of the year, the Republican-dominated Chatham County Commissioners today cut two positions and eliminated the Pittsboro-to-Chapel Hill bus service that began Aug. 17, 2009.
During a tense and packed meeting, at which Chatham County Fire Marshal Thomas Bender turned citizens away due to fire codes, Human Relations Executive Director Esther Coleman and Sustainable Communities Director Cynthia Van Der Wiele lost their jobs.
By a 3-2 vote along party lines, Chatham County Commissioners eliminated the positions. The Obesity Coordinator position was also cut, but it was vacant.
Democrats Sally Kost and Mike Cross voted against cutting the positions. Republican newcomers Brian Bock, Walter Petty and Pamela Stewart voted for the cuts.
Coleman earned $80,000 annually, Van Der Wiele $96,000.
Supporters of the new commissioners reminded Bock, Petty and Stewart that the three had run their campaigns on cutting “government fat,” and that their voters expected them to do that today.
The cuts are expected to save the county $2 million over the next four years, according to Chatham County Community Relations Director Debra Henzey.
The meeting agenda didn’t specifically say the job cuts would be considered, but they were tucked in Item No. 21, “Cost Containment/Streamlining Discussion.”
The newly elected GOP commissioner, Brian Bock, Walter Petty and Pamela Stewart, eliminated positions quickly, which upset many citizens present who hoped the incoming commissioners would not rush their decisions.
“The commissioners can eliminate a position at any time,” Henzey said. “No one was fired, the commissioners chose to eliminate offices as part of their budget decisions.”
Coleman has been executive director of the Human Relations Commission since 2007. She oversaw the county's diverse communities. Nearly 13 percent of Chatham residents are African-American; 13.3 percent are Latino.
However, pockets of the county have high numbers of minorities. For example, Siler City's population is 50 percent Latino.
“Don't think racism does not still exist in Chatham County,” urged Rita Spina, vice-president of Chatham Citizens for Effective Communities. “Please do not go backward in your thinking."
Loyse Hurley, president of CCEC, said, "The human relations director averts and preempts issues by dealing with discrimination, labor violations, hate bias, and hate crimes before they become problems and expensive lawsuits for the county."
As sustainability director, Van Der Wiele coordinated planning, environmental resources, soil erosion and sedimentation control, central permitting, transportation, green building and affordable housing. Her primary charge was to develop and implement a long-term comprehensive community sustainability plan for Chatham County.
Van Der Wiele was hired in 2009.
The commission also voted 4-1 to eliminate the express bus service between Pittsboro and Chapel Hill for 18 months. When the service started in 2009, Chatham County and Pittsboro matched a state grant with an additional $176,000 each year generated by alcoholic beverage taxes.
Comments (7)
Showing 1-7 of 7
Good Morning Triangle citizens,
My name is Pat Barnes, and I am a Chatham citizen. Just wanted to make a public statement that when I make comments on forums or blogs, I sign my name to it. I do not write anonymous posts.
It would appear a former constituent of mine, Mark Barroso, may be becoming a bit obsessed with me these days- poor guy, he's still in a state of shock, I think.
Ya know, Mark, maybe you should seek counseling. There are people out there that can help you.
I just talked to Mark about thirty minutes ago, but wanted to post here, as well, to say this- Instant Account person, whoever you are, I agree with you completely on your statements. I think where Mark may have become confused is that it made sense. That is the reason I don't hang out with his group anymore- they only think what they say makes sense- if you don't bow to them, you are the enemy, and wrong.
Final statement here, Mark- I am a Democrat, and many, many Democrats voted for the new commissioners this past election in Chatham. So, you're saying they only represent Republicans is wrong- but being wrong is becoming an everyday circumstance for you, isn't it?
Pat Barnes
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http://www.youtube.com/user/markbarroso
Preserving our rural character while making fun of and alienating half the county, thanks for delivering the election Mark, hope they did not pay you too much for your consulting! ROTFLMAO!!!!!
You must mean what the VOTERS said. You remember, a majority voted for them. PB IV, not quite, but I do know him. Keep trying though. I can assure you the commissioners took in much public input. Emails, forums during the campaign, and the public input session that you missed. You probably weren't there so you could hurl these accusations. The funny thing is you think you are smart. You should stick to what you know, making garbage movies that nobody cares about.
Elections have consequences, but you probably skipped that class. As they made clear yesterday, they were sorry that folks had to lose their jobs, they truly were, Mr. Petty was most eloquent in saying this. However, tough times call for tough decisions. I fear tougher decisions are still yet to come.
I know it is tough for you to understand, politicians ACTUALLY doing what they said they were going to do in a campaign. George and Co. campaigned on open government and spreading broadband, all lies. Then, George said 1,000 jobs were coming to Western Chatham prior to the election, also lies. Amazing how unpolished you are when operating in the minority. You still crack me up, keep em coming keyboard cowboy!
Patrick Barnes IV:
You must have gotten lost on your way to the Chatham playpen known as the BBS, where cowards hide behind anonymity and hurl personal invectives at people they disagree with.
Like you said in your first post, the commissioners' mind was made up a year ago, regardless of what anyone said.
Funny, because we ALL noticed you weren't there Mark, shoot, you never show your face anymore. Just cruise the internet making pointless videos and outright slanderous lies with your Coalition cronies. HAD you been there you would have witnessed almost two hours of public input.
If you want to be mad, get upset at the Mayor of Pittsboro, he took up nearly twenty minutes of public comment to quote from some book. He would not be up for reelection, or would he? Hehe.
Crawl back under your rock Mark. It was your shameful tactics that lost the campaign for your friends anyway. And we continue to laugh at you :)
It's railroading if you've made up your mind without listening to opposing viewpoints. Bock and his two puppets didn't bother with hearing information or or arguments from non-supporters because they only represent Republican Chatham, not All of Chatham.
Just to clear it up, nothing was 'tucked' into the agenda, and the reason for being non-specific was so that there could be discussion per BOC rules, which was cleared up, AFTER you left the meeting. These decisions were not rushed either. They were part of the incoming threes platform for a year now. Painting this as a railroad is very, very weak. Don't let the facts get in the way of a good blog though, sigh........
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